Schools standards minister Nick Gibb is set to face questions on why the government is committing extra funding to grammar schools when he appears before the education select committee next week.

The Committee said the session on Tuesday is likely to focus on what the government is doing to promote social  justice and to narrow the attainment gap between disadvantaged and other pupils.

In a statement, the committee said its members were likely to raise the effects of changes to the curriculum and may also use the session to question the minister on the government’s approach to grammar schools.

Mr Gibb’s appearance on Tuesday is the first time a member of government has faced the education select committee since it made a raft of announcements on new school places earlier this month.

This included supporting grammar schools to expand through annexes - which critics claim are new schools - with backing from a £200 million fund.

Opponents have warned that the plan to allow existing grammar schools to expand  would be bad for social mobility.

But ministers say they will introduce new rules requiring grammar schools to improve access for disadvantaged children.

A new Selective School Expansion Fund will be allocated £50 million for 2018-19, with details of the remaining £150 million to be announced later.

The education committee announced today that it is to question Mr Gibb on issues relating to his brief, “which includes the curriculum and assessment, teacher recruitment and retention and school accountability”.